USGS Scientists Develop New Tool to Determine if Vermiculite Insulation …
Approximately one million homes in the United States contain vermiculite attic insulation. One of the major past sources of this vermiculite was commercially produced vermiculite insulation from Libby, Montana, containing trace levels of asbestiform amphibole, which is known to cause asbestos-related diseases. Although …
Got Vermiculite?
The Zonolite Attic Insulation Trust by W.R. Grace was set up to fund claims arising from residential and commercial buildings containing the Zonolite brand of Vermiculite. Zonolite was manufactured between the 1940s and 1990s and used as insulation in homes and commercial buildings. Complete information regarding the trust, and if you may be ...
A Guide to Vermiculite: Benefits, Applications, and Safety Tips
Construction and Insulation. Vermiculite's fire-resistant and insulating properties make it a valuable resource in the construction industry. It can be used as loose-fill insulation or mixed with cement or plaster to create lightweight, insulating building materials. Vermiculite is often used asan aggregate in lightweight concrete, providing ...
What Is Vermiculite Insulation And Is It Safe? | Valley Boys, …
Vermiculite insulation consists of a natural occurring mineral that expands into a worm-like or accordion shaped pieces when it is heated. It is a light-weight mater that is fire resistant, absorbent, and odorless. Many products are made from this material including attic insulation. You can buy this type of insulation in various forms for ...
Vermiculite Insulation | Honest Home Inspections
By some estimates, up to 35 million homes in the United States may be insulated with asbestos–contaminated Zonolite, which is the brand name for most vermiculite insulation. Vermiculite attic insulation is a …
CBC News In Depth: Consumers: Vermiculite
Vermiculite is a volcanic mineral that is fire-resistant and has strong insulation properties. The Environmental Protection Agency notes that when vermiculate is heated, it expands into worm-like ...
Vermiculite turns toxic
Vermiculite turns toxic. By Janet Raloff. May 28, 2003 at 4:15 pm. Most people know vermiculite as that -like mineral that gets mixed into potting soil or …
The Hazards of Vermiculite Insulation
The vermiculite in the Libby mine is particularly dangerous because it is laced with the tremolite form of asbestos, the most toxic form. Tremolite fibers are barbed, so they get stuck more easily in soft lung tissue and are tougher to expel. Asbestos exposure from vermiculite insulation can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma ...
Vermiculite Insulation
Vermiculite insulation is a naturally-occurring mineral composed of shiny flakes, which form in various sizes and may appear pebble-like. Vermiculite is a light-weight, fire-resistant, and odorless material and has been used in numerous products, including insulation for attics and walls and often contains asbestos. Some older homes may …
Protect Your Family from Asbestos-Contaminated Vermiculite Insulation …
Vermiculite is a naturally-occurring mineral composed of shiny flakes, resembling mica. When heated to a high temperature, flakes of vermiculite expand as much as 8-30 times their original size. The expanded vermiculite is a light-weight, fire-resistant, and odorless material and has been used in numerous products, including …
Vermiculite Insulation: To Remove or Not
January 12, 2019 RHI. Vermiculite was a common type of attic insulation that was sold from the late 1920s up until the EPA shut down the Zonolite vermiculite mine in Libby Montana in 1990. The Zonolite mine, then owned by W.R. Grace, was responsible for 80% of the world's vermiculite, and vermiculite attic insulation could be purchased ...
Victims of Montana asbestos pollution that killed …
The mine a few miles outside town once produced up to 80% of global vermiculite supplies. It closed in 1990. Nine years later, the Environmental Protection …
Vermiculite : Properties, Uses, Deposits » Geology Science
Vermiculite is a versatile mineral with a wide range of uses in various industries due to its unique physical and chemical properties. Some of the primary uses of vermiculite include: Insulation: Vermiculite is used as an insulating material in construction, providing thermal insulation in walls, ceilings, and roofs. Its lightweight and …
What Is Vermiculite and How Is It Used?
Vermiculite is a popular soil additive for houseplants and garden plants that improves soil texture and helps to grow healthy plants. The main benefits of adding vermiculite to soil are better water absorption, retention, and drainage of the soil, thereby regulating the amount of water available to plants. Read on to learn what vermiculite is ...
Living With Vermiculite Insulation | Risks and Precautions
Vermiculite Insulation Risk: Asbestos Exposure. The Libby Mine in Montana, active starting in the 1920s, was contaminated with a natural deposit of asbestos. Before the mine closed in 1990, it supplied 80% of the vermiculite sold in the United States under the name Zonolite insulation for decades. Not all vermiculite insulation contains ...
Vermiculite
Vermiculite - Micafil 100L pack. Density: 85kg/m 3. Size: 2 - 15mm. Vermiculite Micafil is as an excellent thermal insulating material capable of withstanding temperatures in excess of 1000C. Its nominal particle size is between 2 -15mm. Vermiculite Micafil with its free flowing properties of loose-fill, make it an excellent insulation for lofts.
My attic has vermiculite insulation in it. Am I at risk
The EPA recommends that vermiculite insulation be left undisturbed. Airborne asbestos fibers present a health risk through inhalation, so the first step is to not disturb the material, which could release fibers into the air. If you disturb the insulation, you may inhale some asbestos fibers. The degree of health risk depends on how much and ...
CCOHS: Headlines: Vermiculite Insulation and Asbestos
Headlines Archive. Vermiculite Insulation and Asbestos. Vermiculite is a mineral used in many commercial and consumer products including insulation. Vermiculite itself has not …
Vermiculite turns toxic
Vermiculite turns toxic. By Janet Raloff. May 28, 2003 at 4:15 pm. Most people know vermiculite as that -like mineral that gets mixed into potting soil or poured into attic spaces as ...
Vermiculite Insulation
Vermiculite Insulation. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral compound that expands when heated. A member of the phyllosilicate group of minerals, it resembles mica in appearance. In its pure form, vermiculite is clean, odorless, nontoxic and sterile. Recent findings about vermiculite ore contaminated with tremolite asbestos have caused ...
Vermiculite: What you Need to Know
Vermiculite (Also known as Zonolite) is an insulation material with a texture and weight similar to Styro. It was in popular use between 1919 and 1990 as an alternative to other insulation materials because it is fire resistant, odorless, and light weight. Vermiculite first had to be mined and then heated.
Vermiculite Attic Insulation – Frequently Asked Questions
Vermiculite is a health hazard when disturbed. Most vermiculite attic insulation is Zonolite brand insulation and contains asbestos. As a result, the occupants and workers are at risk, especially if the insulation is disturbed for any reason. Common reasons for disturbing attic vermiculite are: attic rewiring or heating and cooling inmstallations.
USGS Scientists Develop New Tool to Determine if …
National News Release. By Communications and Publishing April 5, 2018. U.S. Geological Survey scientists and partners have created an onsite, time-saving technique for building inspectors to ascertain …
Vermiculite Insulation
Vermiculite Insulation. Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral compound that expands when heated. A member of the phyllosilicate group of minerals, it resembles mica in appearance. In its pure form, vermiculite is clean, odorless, nontoxic and sterile. Recent findings about vermiculite ore contaminated with tremolite asbestos …
My attic has vermiculite insulation in it. Am I at risk
Last updated on May 11, 2023. If you have vermiculite insulation in your home, you should assume this material may be contaminated with asbestos and be aware of steps …
Vermiculite Insulation | Does It Need to Be Removed?
If you need to or would prefer to have the vermiculite removed, you can get it tested for asbestos. If the insulation was part of the approximate 70% of vermiculite insulation that came from Libby, you will need to have it removed with special procedures and safety measures. There is no other way to know than to send a sample to an …
Vermiculite Insulation | Center for Energy and Environment
Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral that was used as a insulation product from 1940 to the 1990s. It is a pebble-like, pour-in product that is usually light brown or gold in color, ranging in size from very fine particles to course pieces around an inch long. It may have shiny flakes or small accordion-like pieces.
New Tool Determines If Vermiculite Insulation …
Scientists with the United States Geology Survey (USGS) have created a hand-held spectrometer to determine if vermiculite insulation contains deadly amphibole asbestos. The recent innovation …
What Is Vermiculite Used For? Here's Everything You Need …
Vermiculite is a lesser-known product that was typically used as attic insulation in homes built between the 1940s-1980s. It is a naturally occurring compound, with light-weight and fire-resistant characteristics. Although it can be considered a dangerous material to have in your home, not all of it is problematic.
CCOHS: Vermiculite Insulation Containing Asbestos
Download PDF. Vermiculite Insulation Containing Asbestos. On this page. What is vermiculite? Is all vermiculite a health concern? What are the health risks of …